stores we love
Urban Mining Homewares
Westport
Ur ban Mining has street smarts and ur ban style, which is right up our recycling, green-loving al ley.
Owners: The most important thing to con- sider when selecting an item for potential repurposing or renewal is build quality and style. Try to see through the flaking paint, tattered upholstery or dated colors to the inherent lines of the piece. VKC: How do you choose vendors? Owners: When selecting dealers to join our team, we consider the quality of their offer- ings and how they will fit into our current merchandise mix; their reputation and experi- ence in the industry; and most important, how well their personalities will mesh with our close-knit, friendly and fun-loving team. VKC: How would you describe the style of the items in your shop? Owners: One thing that sets us apart is that much of our inventory is a little more “urban” than most. We have specialists in European provencial, Mid-Century, retro-modern, and industrial era furnishings and décor, and we have some of the most talented craftspeople in the metro, who repurpose and build spectacu- lar, one-of-a-kind furnishings and lighting. Plus, several of our “Miners” are experienced interior designers. VKC: What is the biggest item you’ve sold? Owners: One of the largest and most expensive items we sold was a fantastic custom-made retro sectional sofa that was so huge it took
VKC: How long have you been picking? Owners: There are 37 dealers at Urban Min- ing, and many are long-time vintage devotees. Some of us started with a passion for collect- ing antiques, and some enjoyed the thrill of turning a cast-off find into a renewed master- piece. Others were seeking an outlet for their artistic and creative skills, and vintage and repurposed items were a natural extension of that creativity! Owner Heather London started with her first vintage find when she was just a teenager. It was a Modigliani style female bust that she found at a garage sale for $5. Owner Susan Hartnett caught the bug when furnishing her family’s first home. VKC: When did you decide to open your own business and why? Owners: Our original owner, Mary, was the first person in the metro area to pioneer the “First Friday weekend vintage market.” She started with a passion for green living, and repurposing items to avoid having them end up in landfills. In 2003, she opened Urban Mining in the basement of Midtown’s historic Meyer Building on Main Street. With just a few deal- ers joining her in the beginning, the business grew by word of mouth, and some of her deal- ers eventually spun off the business model in the West Bottoms and other areas of the metro. VKC: What advice do you have for new pickers?
three of us, with a van and two trucks to move it to The Mine! It was gorgeous, and in great condition, and sold for about $1,200 within an hour or two of opening for the weekend. VKC: What is your business philosophy? Owners: Our philosophy is simple. We are committed to ethical business practices, quality inventory and workmanship, and we are proud to be a green business. While some of our offer- ings certainly aren’t “cheap” we strive to offer ex- ceptional value, which is why so many designers and dealers shop with us. And, we believe that our work should be fulfilling and fun. VKC: What experience do you hope your customers have in your store? Owners: We hope that our customers are thrilled each time they visit us with our fresh, varied inventory, great prices, and casual, comfortable environment. We want every customer to feel a sense of welcome, belong- ing and friendship, and that coming to see us is a little bit more than just “going shopping.” We like to recognize and acknowledge our repeat customers, and to personally welcome new customers whenever we can, and we want them to feel a sense of fun and excitement as they make their selections! VKC: What other vendors do you adore? Owners: Donna’s Dress Shop, Retro Inferno, Parrin & Co., Thistle, Mission Road Antiques
VintageKC / Fall 2012 45
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